Author Archives: Marge Kobewka

Thoughts on Student Assessment

Will this assessment help me to identify student’s needs as learners? Will it help me to guide next steps?  These questions swirl around my brain.  See that determined orange tabby climbing higher to to new levels?  That’s what I want for my students. Recently this phrase, caught my attention, actionable feedback. Feedback kids know theyContinue reading “Thoughts on Student Assessment”

December 2014, Travels to India.

The bridge was a parade of life in Haridwar, Hindu pilgrims, who came to wash in the holy water of the Ganges, priests, holy men, families, and school children. School boys flew kites from the bridge in the cool breezes. They skillfully competed to send the other’s kites into the fast flowing Ganges. Their laughterContinue reading “December 2014, Travels to India.”

Mathematical Curiosity

Curiosity –  Can you think of a time when you or your kids were mathematically curious?  When it comes to math it seems that we focus on knowledge not on curiosity. Jo Boaler’s course interviewed several speakers who have a passion for math, people who have what she calls an ‘inquiry relationship’ with math. ComputerContinue reading “Mathematical Curiosity”

Teacher Language Matters

As I listened to examples of number talks in the math classroom, this stands out, teacher language matters. “I think I heard you say.” “How did you know you should have…..” “Where do you think your mistake came from?” “So you are saying…” “How did you figure that out?” “Do we see it another way?”Continue reading “Teacher Language Matters”

My Mother and ‘The Number Talk’

My brother nodded in agreement and chuckled, “Yes our mother was great with numbers.”  She had the ability to use numbers fluently, a skill we we both easily acknowledged. How well I remember standing next to my mother in a grocery store or bank as she quickly and easily calculated totals.  I would line upContinue reading “My Mother and ‘The Number Talk’”

Creating Safe Places to Take Risks for Learning

What messages will you give your students about the value of mistakes as we learn? Mistakes, fertile ground for growth. Live on the learning edge – don’t be afraid to make a mistake. The path of learning is littered with mistakes – thank goodness! Mistakes are the stepping stones to learning. If you can’t makeContinue reading “Creating Safe Places to Take Risks for Learning”

Taking on the Challenge

And the moral of the story is…. Ugh!  A didactic tale can fall flat. With little meaningful connection to the story the message is seldom remembered or lost to the reader.  You may identify with this.  I for one, recognize this didactic interaction not only in books but in my classroom. Lesson 4  of How toContinue reading “Taking on the Challenge”

Shout it from the Roof Tops!

Current research helps us understand what high achieving math students do and it is most interesting, in fact Jo Boaler tells us it is worth shouting from the rooftops so here it is: High achieving math students use flexible thinking,  are able to easily decompose and recompose numbers and naturally compress ideas to move onContinue reading “Shout it from the Roof Tops!”

Your Brain is Amazing!

All I can say is, “Thankfully we are developing a deeper understanding of how we learn.” Once upon  a time I lived in a world of the fixed mindset¹ and likely you did too. Some students were smart and others were not.  Intelligence was viewed as fixed at birth and one of the roles ofContinue reading “Your Brain is Amazing!”